Read Matthew 7:15-23, and Luke 6:46
We seem to be seeing a strange paradox (paradox meaning a statement that may be true, but seems to say two opposite things; any inconsistent or contradictory fact, action, or condition) in our mixed up world. There seems to be revivals taking place throughout the world, but at the same time there also seems to be an increase in wickedness. It just doesn’t add up, does it?
I feel that the Gospel has lost its power. Thousands of people profess Jesus Christ, but nothing much is happening as a result. It is however not the fault of the Gospel. I believe it’s because people make a profession, but have no possession. I don’t believe it is just enough to acknowledge the truth of the Gospel and say, Lord, Lord as Luke 6:46 states, and then not do the things which the Lord is saying. OUR LIVES MUST BE TRANSFORMED.
Many of us have sat under much excellent teaching of the Word of God, but we lack one ingredient in fulfilling what God would want us to achieve in our relationship with Him, and others. That ingredient is LOVE.
I believe that we are still “baby” Christians even after all of the teaching we have had. We devise our own so called church “programs” that we think will fill each persons needs in the church. We feel comfortable in our own setting (we sometimes don’t really want to change - do we?), and we see signs of discourtesy, no hospitality, lack of concern for others, a grumpy spirit, discouragement, and lack of true genuine love for those in the local body. People of the world show more love than people in the church it seems – No wonder non-Christians look at us so called “Christians”, and see the phoniness, and hypocritical nature in us. No wonder they are “turned off” by religiosity, and what they see in our everyday lives.
After years of teaching, a body of believers should be wanting to rid themselves of their childish ways (In other words grow up) and be so filled with the Holy Spirit, and wanting to get out of that comfortable zone of a “program”, that they will go to all extremes to spend more time in prayer seeking God, showing love to their neighbors, helping others in need, casting out demonic spirits in people, dealing with the root problems most of us mask and hide, ( these are just a few things we mask –sexual hangups, uncleanliness, obesity, poor nutrition and eating habits, improper hygiene, etc.), and seeing healings taking place etc. How can God work with a people that are all bound up with problems inside from the past, etc.
Do you really want change (which will require some effort on your part), or a nice time coming to church once a week for several hours, and a Bible Study once a week and then say I’ve done my part, and then go our separate ways for a week and do the same thing again next Sunday – Is God pleased with that kind of attitude and mentality?. I don’t think so. We should desire change!
WE NEED TO BE SET FREE!! Foolishness and Irresponsibility needs to be BURIED!
I believe there is more to our relationship with God than a “program.” What is being done to evangelize others in this community? We can barely get along with getting to really know one another in the church the way we should, let alone have the tools as a group of so called Christians to witness to others. We need to get our “act” together first with our personal relationship with God, and our own local body of so called believers before we can even consider reaching out to others.
You probably are saying to yourselves, “Well, I have a good enough relationship with God; I’m serving Him just fine, and God sees my heart, and you don’t know what you are saying – well then prove it sister or brother. God says that we will know them by their FRUITS. Is your life fruitful? We need to examine our hearts, and ask God to change us. I bet that as you read this you are convicted in your heart, and would really like to see your life, and the church more “in tune” with God’s plans and expectations. I sure do. I don’t want my plans. I want God’s plans.
Maybe you have heard this story before – it goes like this -A preacher was walking down a street when he met the owner of a company that made soap. As they talked, the soap maker said, “The Gospel you preach can’t be very good for there are still a lot of wicked people.” The preacher noticed a child nearby making mud pies, The tot was smeared with dirt from head to toe. The preacher said to his friend, “Your soap can’t be very good, for there is still a lot of dirt in the world.” The man responded, “Well, it cleanses only when a person uses it.” “Exactly!” said the preacher.
Is your faith real – not merely a profession, but heartfelt trust in Christ? Do you have that relationship with Jesus that is changing your life? Your Christianity isn’t worth much if it doesn’t change your character.
Bob Ventura
One spring our family was driving from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, Florida. As far as the eye could see, orange trees were loaded with fruit. When we stopped for breakfast, I ordered orange juice with my eggs. "I'm sorry," the waitress said. "I can't bring you orange juice. Our machine is broken." At first I was dumbfounded. We were surrounded by millions of oranges, and I knew they had oranges in the kitchen--orange slices garnished our plates. What was the problem? No juice? Hardly. We were surrounded by thousands of gallons of juice. The problem was they had become dependent on a machine(the program) to get it. Christians are sometimes like that. They may be surrounded by Bibles in their homes, but if something should happen to the Sunday morning preaching service, they would have no nourishment for their souls. The problem is not a lack of spiritual food--but that many Christians haven't grown up enough to know how to get it for themselves.
In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.
For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.
J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God and not the program." When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us. Is life and power flowing through you?
Ernest B. Beevers
A recent television documentary pointed out that the cheetah survives on the African plains by running down its prey. The big cat can sprint seventy miles per hour. But the cheetah cannot sustain that pace for long. Within its long, sleek body is a disproportionately small heart, which causes the cheetah to tire quickly. Unless the cheetah catches its prey in the first flurry, it must abandon the chase.
ministry. We speed into projects(the program) with great energy. But lacking the heart for sustained effort, we fizzle before we finish. We vow to start faster and run harder, when what we need may be not more speed but more staying power--stamina that comes only from a bigger heart. Motion and busyness(the program), no matter how great, yield nothing unless we allow God to give us the heart.
Grant Lovejoy
Show me a church where there is love, and I will show you a church that is a power in the community. In Chicago a few years ago a little boy attended a Sunday school I know of. When his parents moved to another part of the city the little fellow still attended the same Sunday school, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each way. A friend asked him why he went so far, and told him that there were plenty of others just as good nearer his home. They may be as good for others, but not for me,” was his reply. Why not? she asked. Because they love a fellow over there,” he replied. If only we could make the world believe that we loved them there would be fewer empty churches, and a smaller proportion of our population who never darken a church door. Let LOVE replace duty(PROGRAMS) in our church relations, and the world will soon be evangelized.